[nhyrnut]

Originally Posted by lukedaddy

I'm scared to ask, but here goes........what exactly is "Mud Season"?

Well lets see. In VT they don't have paved roads. So in the spring with all the traffic the dirt gets muddy really quick. All the frost heaves and wash walls get real rutty. Due to all the rain and snow melt. LOL But seriously it is in the spring towrd the end of winter. with all the snow melt things tend to get real muddy. Drive ways etc. sometimes it comes early I believe this year they went through it 2 or 3 times. but it is muddy everywhere. if your into 4 wheeling it is fun.

[chaz longue]

I thought I'd move this thread up for the benefit of "yuppidyup" who posted questions about Burlington recently.

[negreenUSF]

For those of you who are thinking of moving to VT with children then I will offer to you why as a child growing up here was the best thing ever.

We moved from CA (bay area) when I was in middle school and being used to having to constantly watch our backs, childhood was boring and sometimes scary. When we moved to Jericho, VT it was a whole different story!! I remember being able to roam our neighborhood riding our bikes or just walking around and never fearing anything. There were many neighborhoods that connected so I made friends very quickly. I fondly remember sledding and snowball fights during the winter. In the spring and summer we spent nights playing flashlight tag, days walking to the river and swimming, playing bball at the local school, eating at Joe's snack bar and walking to the local general store to get candy or ice cream. I never felt afraid of anything or anyone and can't think of a better way to grow up. Another great thing about VT is not having to lock your house or car. The greater Burlington area is a fantastic place to grow up and I wouldn't change it for the world!

[lukedaddy]

Wow. That sounds really nice. Please tell me it didn't all happen in the 50's?

[negreenUSF]

haha no I'm 24 and my parents and younger siblings still live in VT. My brother and sister enjoyed the same experiences growing up as I did. If you have a family and are looking for a great town to raise them in then try Jericho. The area I lived in was Jericho East a subdivison off of Packard and Route 15. And no worries it's not a subdivision like out west or down south with homes sitting on each other but rather spaced out with great size yards and decent size homes. Check out the areas around that as well, they all connect through bike paths and then come out at the school Jericho Elementary. You can also check out the foothills off of Route 15. The schools are very good too and a lot of community involvement with the schools. If you go to the area make sure you make a stop at Joe's Snack Bar right on Route 15 as you enter Jericho!!! The general store I was talking about is right next to it too!

[chaz longue]

Thanks for sharing that negreenUSF.

That sounds a great deal like my childhood in South Burlington. Then we moved to Tarbox Rd (aka "the research road") in Jericho in about 1970. Neighborhoods like this seem fairly easy to find now - and it's not 1950 anymore

I'm not entirely sure kids are so likely to spend the whole day on thier bikes anymore - and that's a shame. They are probably more overscheduled now and get driven places. But safe neighborhoods full of people who know eachother and look out for eachother's kids and really value that aren't rare at all here it seems to me.

[negreenUSF]

I know tarbox rd...if I remember correctly there was a house that my parents were looking at buying when we first moved to VT. It's funny how much people take for granted when they live in VT and it's easy to complain, I did all the time. But now that I have moved to FL I have a greater appreciation for VT. Granted it's easy to do when you live in FL....

[mjm]

On a nice clear day, stand up at the top of Hogback Mountain for a while, just breathe and look around. After that you shouldn't have to ask again, but if you do, I'll direct you to the next spot.
And being there would be no fun if it weren't for the "real" Vermonters to teach me a few things.

[Derringer]

Mustard, That may be true about those values existing in other states, but I'm sorry New Jersyans don't have them. Even the ones who move to VT are obnoxious, pretentious and angry. As afr as Burlington being Eco-friendly... Where are the recycling barrels on Church St? Where are the wind towers on Stratton? It's all BS by the boomers who have moved here and think they are so enlightened. It's all about greed. the only ones eating healthy vegetarian meals are the 20 something wanna be hippies. I hope they don't stay that course. Look at what asses the boomer/ex-hippies are!

[Colomonter]

Originally Posted by negreenUSF

For those of you who are thinking of moving to VT with children then I will offer to you why as a child growing up here was the best thing ever.

We moved from CA (bay area) when I was in middle school and being used to having to constantly watch our backs, childhood was boring and sometimes scary. When we moved to Jericho, VT it was a whole different story!! I remember being able to roam our neighborhood riding our bikes or just walking around and never fearing anything. There were many neighborhoods that connected so I made friends very quickly. I fondly remember sledding and snowball fights during the winter. In the spring and summer we spent nights playing flashlight tag, days walking to the river and swimming, playing bball at the local school, eating at Joe's snack bar and walking to the local general store to get candy or ice cream. I never felt afraid of anything or anyone and can't think of a better way to grow up. Another great thing about VT is not having to lock your house or car. The greater Burlington area is a fantastic place to grow up and I wouldn't change it for the world!

Many valid points here, BUT Jericho is not quite the idilic paradise that it is made out to be. Being within 15 minutes of Burlington it is basically a bedroom community for Burlington. No real downtown, a very limited number of businesses, very high cost for housing and the worst aspect is the fact that Highway 15 runs through the middle of it. 15 is a very busy commuter road and many parents don't want their small children anywhere near it. Trying to turn left out of Jericho Elementary onto 15 is an exercise in futility at many times during the day, but especially mornings and evenings.

Jericho Elementary is a great school and Jericho East is a very nice subdivision, although expensive, $325,000 to $425,000 on average.